Crashes are an unfortunate, more than daily occurrence in Ulster County. According to preliminary 2025 data from the Institute for Traffic Safety Management & Research, there were a total of 7,075 motor vehicle occupants, 37 motorcyclists, and 20 bicyclists involved in crashes. Thankfully, the overwhelming majority of them were either uninjured, or suffered only minor injuries. In addition to better road design and maintenance, traffic calming measures, and safer vehicle manufacturing, a large factor for safety is compliance in wearing a seatbelt, safety gear, or a bicycle helmet.
In this blog post, we’re going to cover how compliance with wearing safety gear changes the likelihood of being injured in an accident, and how it does and doesn’t factor into the recoverability of damages in a personal injury settlement.
Motor Vehicle or Car Crashes
There were 7,075 occupants of vehicles involved in car crashes in Ulster County in 2025 (preliminary). 6,744 (95%) of them were wearing seatbelts, 98 (1.4%) were not, and we’re not sure about 233 of them.
Among the 6,264 people who had no injuries, 5,979 were wearing safety belts, 71 were not (roughly 1.1%), and we’re not sure about 214 of them.
Among people who were injured or killed in car crashes, not wearing a seatbelt hurt their outcomes significantly. For occupants suffering minor injuries, 477 were wearing seatbelts, and 12 (2.5%) were not. Among people suffering moderate injuries, 156 were wearing a seatbelt, and 9 (5.5%) were not. Among those suffering serious injuries, 94 were wearing seatbelts, and 4 (4%) were not. And among those killed in car crashes, 10 were wearing a seatbelt, and 2 (17%) were not.
Your decision to wear a seatbelt can be a major factor in injury severity. That is reflected in your options for a personal injury settlement after a car crash. If it can be proven that some or all of your injuries would have been prevented or reduced had you worn a seatbelt, your recoverable damages can be adjusted accordingly.
This precedent was established by Spier v. Barker, 35 N.Y.2d 444 (1974), which emphasizes that while seatbelt use doesn’t affect who caused a car accident, it can significantly impact the amount of compensation a plaintiff can recover for their injuries if they were not buckled up.
Motorcycle Crashes and Helmet Use
In New York State and Ulster County, you should wear a motorcycle helmet. New York enforces a universal helmet law that requires all riders and passengers to wear approved helmets and eye protection.
In the 37 motorcycle crashes reported in Ulster County in 2025 (preliminary), 31 riders or passengers (84%) were wearing helmets, three (8%) were not, and we’re not sure about three of them. Among people with minor injuries, 7 of 8 were wearing a helmet. Among those with moderate injuries, 5 of 6 were wearing a helmet. Among those with serious injuries, 11 of 13 were wearing a helmet. Both riders killed were wearing helmets.
In New York State, the concept of comparative negligence affects what motorcyclists can receive in a personal injury settlement. If the courts or insurers can demonstrate that your non-use of safety gear influenced the severity of your injury, for example, a traumatic brain injury, then your potential for a full recovery of damages is lessened proportionally.
Bicycle Crashes and Helmet Use
In New York State, the use of bicycle helmets is mandated for those under 14 years of age. However, if there was a head injury caused by a crash, insurers may attempt to find a causal link between the injury and the lack of a helmet.
Of the 20 people involved in police-reported bicycle injury crashes in Ulster County in 2025 (preliminary), 8 (40%) were not wearing a helmet, with helmet status unknown for 6 others. Among those with serious injuries, the data shows mixed helmet use across 3 crashes. Among those with moderate injuries, 6 of 9 were not wearing a helmet.
How Safety Equipment Affects Your Settlement
To see how Ulster County compares to Dutchess and Orange Counties on safety equipment compliance and injury outcomes, see our Hudson Valley safety equipment guide.
The ultimate answer to this, across car, motorcycle and bicycle crashes in Ulster County, is that it depends. It’s a matter of finding a personal injury attorney who is equipped to make the best argument to receive a just settlement for your injuries or losses from a crash. Give us a call at 845-600-0000 to set up a free consultation at our personal injury law office in Kingston today.